Tampa Bay's Starting QB Remains Question

Published 8:00 pm, Monday, December 23, 2002

Coach Jon Gruden said Tuesday that he hasn't decided who will start at quarterback in the Buccaneers' regular season finale if Brad Johnson is unable to play because of a severe lower back bruise.

Shaun King struggled in Monday night's 17-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and was replaced in the second half by Rob Johnson, who may have played well enough to reclaim the backup job he lost a month ago.

Gruden said he's not sure if Brad Johnson, who was injured against Detroit on Dec. 15, will be able to practice this week. He wouldn't say if he's leaning toward giving King or Rob Johnson the majority of the snaps in preparation for Sunday night's game against the Chicago Bears.

"We're going to be very hopeful that Brad returns. At the same time we have to be realistic and move on with our lives as if he's not going to play, and find a way to win without him," Gruden said.

King made his first start in nearly two seasons against the Steelers. He completed 9 of 26 passes for 73 yards and had an interception returned for a touchdown on Tampa Bay's first possession.

Rob Johnson entered the game with Tampa Bay trailing 17-0 midway through the third quarter. He was 12-of-18 for 159 yards and threw an 18-yard TD pass to Keyshawn Johnson with 1:14 remaining in the fourth quarter.

But the former Buffalo starter also lost a fumble inside Pittsburgh's 10 and was sacked five times, including four on a drive in which the Bucs gained 101 yards passing but still couldn't score.

"In fairness to Shaun King, I said before the game he's been inactive for a long time. To go out there in week 15 against a defense of that style is very difficult, very difficult on anyone," Gruden said.

"I'm not down on him. I'm disappointed the way it turned out. We like Rob, we like Shaun. We will start whoever we feel gives us the best chance to win."

The Bucs fell out of contention for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. They can still earn a first-round bye, though, if they beat the Bears on the road and Green Bay loses to the New York Jets.

The Bucs are 1-1 without Brad Johnson. On Oct. 27, Rob Johnson beat the Carolina Panthers 12-9 with help from King, who replaced him for one play and completed a short pass to set a game-winning field goal.

Gruden conceded the quarterback situation is unsettling.

"I can't say I've been through this before. You talk about the teams that are going to be in the playoffs or striving to be in the playoffs. You take away the starting quarterback at this stage of the season … it's going to impact your team," Gruden said.

"But we're not going to make excuses. If we don't turn the ball over inside the 5 twice and throw an interception for a touchdown, we've got a chance to win that football game."

Gruden said tests performed on Brad Johnson's back have not revealed any structural damage.

"But sometimes you suffer a bruise in that area and it takes a while until the pain goes away. Sometimes it's seven days, sometimes it's 17 days, and sometimes it's longer. … We've got to dig deep and find a way to overcome it."